Public Domain Day 2026 | Duke University School of Law
web.law.duke.edu
January 1, 2026 is Public Domain Day: Works from 1930 are open to all, as are sound recordings from 1925! By Jennifer Jenkins and James Boyle[1] CC BY 4.0 Please note that this site is only about US law; the copyright terms in other countries are different.[2] On January 1, 2026, thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 enter the US public domain, along with sound recordings from 1925.

Direct quote from the page:

Please note that this site is only about US law; the copyright terms in other countries are different.[2]

On January 1, 2026, thousands of copyrighted works from 1930 enter the US public domain, along with sound recordings from 1925. They will be free for all to copy, share, and build upon

  • Kissaki@feddit.orgEnglish
    3·
    23 hours ago

    I had no idea the 50 years after death was the “minimum” and some countries add more years :O

    /edit: I was a bit confused about the +50 list listing European countries, but the text saying something different.

    In most countries of Africa and Asia, as well as Belarus, Bolivia, New Zealand and Uruguay; a work enters the public domain 50 years after the creator’s death.

    In Bangladesh, India, and Venezuela a work enters the public domain 60 years after the creator’s death.

    With the exception of Belarus (Life + 50 years) and Spain (which has a copyright term of Life + 80 years for creators that died before 1987), a work enters the public domain in Europe 70 years after the creator’s death, if it was published during the creator’s lifetime.

    United States: Under the Copyright Term Extension Act, books published in 1930, films released in 1930, and other works published in 1930, will enter the public domain in 2026.